While talking to the media he said: "I would have been happier if my father was present today, he passed away a year back. My mother is unwell at the moment but she sends her blessings and that is more than enough for me."

The new Himachal Pradesh chief minister-elect's father died on December 25 last year.

Thakur's wife Sadhana Thakur will be accompanying the leader in the ceremony. She expressed her delight and said: "It is a win for the common man. There are a lot of expectations with this Govt that they will try and solve the problems faced by the public"